Pin setting mechanism for bowling alleys



Nov. 13, 1945. w. BATES PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed March 19, 1940 10 Sheets$heet 1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS LEON w. BATES BY ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1945, W, BATES 2,388,708

PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed March 19, 1940 I0 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 74 l4 3-; 7 WW 4 WI! ii JIIIIIIIIIIII'IA I 'l 'l '11 ZIZI'IIIIIIIIIIIIIA I. 'I. 'I. M Va '!A '1 E a I 5;: s 4 5 :EL t Ll i INVENTORS LEON 14/. BA T55 Fi .2. BY

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ATTQRNEY- Nov. 13, 1945. L w. BATES 7 2,388,708

PIN SETTING MECHAN ISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed March 19, 1940 10 sheetswsheet 3 g 3 INVENTORS LEON W. BA TES ATTORNEY No 13, 1945. L, w, BATES 2,388,708

PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed March 19, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS LEON w. BATES ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1945.

1.. w. BATES PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING 'ALLEYS Y Filed March 19, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LEON w. BATES BY W ATTORNEY L. W. BATES Nov. 13, 1945.

PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 19, 1940 3 maul;

INVENTORS LEON W BA TES ATTORN EY Nov. 13, 1945. w. BATES $3 8,708

PIN SETTII IG MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed March 19, 1940 10 Sheets-;Sheet 7 INVENTORS' LEON W. 8/1 TES ATTORNEY Filed March 19, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 .Illllllxlll I I 1 l l wkm 0X N INVENTORS "r? LEON W. BATES Wm ..ATI'ORNEY Nov. 13, 1945. L. w. BATES PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS 1o Shets-Sheet 9 Filed March 19, 1940 AFTER IST. BALL Fig.6.

SPOTTER U P FOR SWEEP Fig.1 5.

SPOTTER L|FT 'lN6 STANDS PINS Fl g l4 PINS R E-SET, COLLECTOR FORW'D INVENTORS LEON w. BA TES READY FOR NEXT FRAME m 7 ATTORNEY FI JS.

Nov. 13, 1945. w. BATES PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 19, 1940 "It,I'IIII'III'IIIIIIIIIII' I. 011,111,

9 I NVENTORS LEON W. BA TES ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1945 4' aassaos rm sa'r'rma MECHANISM son BOWLING mars Leon w. Bates, Trenton, N. 1., asslgnor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March n, 1940, Serial No. 324,762

\ 59 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for use in combination with a bowling alley or withother similar ball and pin'games or devices and particularly to mechanism for automatically resetting the pins and returning the balls to the player.

Devices which have been designed for thispurpose heretofore have in most every instance required the use of special constructions of the alley or of the pins or both andhave not been applicable directly to existing alleys or adapted for use with conventional pins approved by the American Bowling Congress. Moreover, devices of this type as heretofore deslgned' havs een exceedingly complicated and expensive to construct and operate and have not been so designed as toinsure proper operation of the mechanism over long periods of time and under all conditions of use. In accordance with the present-invention these objections to constructions of theprior art are out delay.

a new set of pins may be placed in The operation of the mechanism preferably is controlled by elettrical means responsive to movement of the playing'balls so that the. device a "is completely automatic and requires no manual operation whatever. The' control means may be actuated manually by coin, operated means or otherwise to permit play to be started.

Each of the various elements of the combination is itself capable of change and modification and certain of the devices embodied therein may be used independently of others or by themselves or they may be replaced by other equivalent mechanism. However, the mechanism in its preferred form includes means for controlling and coordinating the operation of such devices and for purposes of illustration the invention is shown in the drawings as including a preferred combiovercome and mechanism provided which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce and operate and which is adapted for application directly to existing bowling alleys without making any change in the floor of the alley and without using any special pins. Devices embodying the present invention are therefore capable of being installed without relaying the alley and without discarding conventional pins and equipment employed in bowling alleys today.

While the invention is adapted for use with various types and styles of ball and pin games and equipment, it is particularly applicable to conven.-

tional bowling alleysof the. type having a floor or playing surface provided with a pit at the end or the alley into which the balls and pins pass in the course of the game.

In that term of the invention illustrated in the drawings the mechanism embodies a conveyor which is located in the pit and serves to deliver the balls to a ball retum device and serves to deliver the pins to an elevator. The elevator raises the pins from the pit and discharges them onto a butt feed device which. inverts the pins where necessary so that they travel butt foremost I to a pin collector. The pin collector receives the pins and cooperates with a spotter having gripping members to arrange the pins and lower them into position on the playing surface of the alley. The mechanism also includes a sweep for removing fallen pins from thevalleyand is actuated atter the first ball to remove dead wood" and again actuated after the second ball is rolled to nation ofelements which has been found in ticeto be practical and serviceable. x

One of the objects of thepresent v to provide a bowling alley or other ball and pin device with novel means for resetting the pins in predetermined positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for separating the balls and pins and for delivering each to other means for handling the same.

Another obiectof the invention is to provide 3 novel means for raising the pins from the pit at the end of a bowling alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for inverting pins so that they travel 'butt end ioremost in the mechanism.

''Another object of the invention-is novel means for collecting and arranging bowling pins preparatory to placing the same on the playing'surface of an alley.

Another object of'the invention is to provide pin setting mechanism adapted to be applied to conventional bowling alleys without relaying the floor of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide pin setting means for bowling alleys and the like adapted for operation with conventional wooden pins of the typein current use today.

remove all of the pins from the alley so that These and other objects and features of our invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawings.

In the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of'a typical embodiment of the invention as applied to a conventional bowling alley.

position withinvention is,

to providev Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on the line 2+2 thereof. V

3 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism of Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a portion of the mechanism showing the butt feed device.

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the collector zihowing the elements thereof in different posions.

Fig. '7 is aplan view showing the arrangement of the collector on its carriage.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation'of the collector shown in Fla. '7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective showing thc'spottins device and driving means therefor.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of one of the pairs of gripping members of the spotting device.

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing a preierred system for controlling operation of the mechanism, and I Figs. 12 to 18 inclusive-are a series of diamatic side elevations of the mechanism in variousstages of its operation. T

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view of a typical hall return device, and 4 Fig. 20 is a horizontal sectional view of the sectional view of the construction illustrated in his. 19.

The construction shown in the drawings is applied to a bowling alley having, a playing suriece it with cutters ii at the sides thereof and a pit G at the end of the aliey. A hack stop 8 is spaced from the end of the alley as in standard howling alley constructions.

The pit conveyor Within the pit G and below the heck stop is located e. oonveyor it for separating the pins from the halls and 530i conveying the hello to hall return device it and conveying the pins to assavos the invention for. use with regulation pins, "duck". pins, "candle" pins or other pins or members which the device is employed to handle.

The ball return device 7 The ball return device to which the pit conveyor delivers the balls may he of any suitable type orconstruction. The form thereof shown inFigs. 19 and 20 embodies a ball lifting fork secured to .a block 32 having a rear bearing portion extending through avertical slot 34 in the "kick-back at the side of the pit. A hood 3] is fastened to the block 32 within the pit and an elevator id for revising the pins from the pit so that they can be reset on the playing surface oi the alley;

The conveyor is. formed with a mess it having an upper: inclined surisce over which s. conveyortelt ii is moved in direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 beneath the hack stop 6. The rear portion of the hassle inclined. toward. a chcnnel i9 col: jacent the elevator i l. The locit i8 passes about an idler roli at the front oi the pit, a second idler roll directly under the hack saop anti over-o.

- eble means.

formedwith a laterally open side to admit balls to 'the lifting fork and with" a closed rear face which prevents pins falling into the pit from rollin: onto the lifting fork or otherwise interfering hall return track 42. The chain is driven continuously from the pit conveyor motor 24 by suit- The fork carrying block 82 is pr0- vided with a bearing block M which bears against plates 46 on the outer iace of the kick-back on opposite sides of the slot tit. A hook iiil carried by the bearing block to is movable to ensase'the links of the chain at by means of an actuating member so slidable in brackets t2 and connected at its end to a pivoted ball contact lever t l.

With this construction the hall in entering the hood 38 passes onto the lifting fork es and atrthe same time engages ball contact lever lit. in this way the actuating member 50 moves hook tit into engagement with one of the links of the continuously driven chain Elli causing the chain to ralscthe hearing block lit and the connected forkcarrying block 32. The ball and hood are thus raised together show? the ball return track "it whereupon the hall rolls off onto the track and is returned to the player. Thereafter the teeth of the sprocket lii engage the hook 68 to push it out of engagement with the links ofthe chain '38 so that the lifting fork and hood descend by gravity raising a ccuntebweight which in euros smooth return thereof.

."Zhe o ration of hell contact lever t l also serves to close a. starting switch tit which 1111 tiates operation oi other devices in the mechanism Whereas the hearing block. 436 as it raises and nears its upper position aotuates a second switch it to rotate it through on are of 90 degrees to close one of the contacts i and for preparing Jthe mechanism for operation in. response to a second hall as described hereafter in connection veyor helt travels and the transversely inclined diagonal ribs 28 on the belt cooperate to cause the belt, the inclination of the support over' which the belt moves and the speedof operation thereof as well as the space provided between the back stop and belt may be varied to adapt with the automatic control of the system.

The elevator the elevator employed ior raising the pins from the pit is supported by 0. frame work 62 and exiends shove the butt feed device 643 located adjaversely extending slats "iii from which project pin carriers 32 in the term-of spaced curved fin ers it enacted to receive and hole. the pins to raise them from thepiths the belt travels upward. The

carriers 12 are arranged in spaced groups which are stassered on the bell-.66 so that each group of carriers supports only one pin. The pins are with.

thus raised individually and discharged onto the butt feed device individually so that the pins are prevented from piling up on the carriers or on the butt feed screws.

In order to discharge the pins from the ele-" vator so that theypass to the butt feed device' the elevator is provided with discharge fingers I4 secured to the'slats I0 of the belt above those slats from which the pin carriers" project. The fingers I4 extend parallel to the face of the slats and project downward between the spaced carriers 12. As'the slats to which the discharge fingers I4 tilt rearwardly with. the belt 60 to pass over the roll the discharge fingers move therewith and the lower ends thereof swing outward between the carriers "and away from the plane in which the lower portion of the belt is mov- 7 ing. In this way the pins on the carriers are.

pushed off the carriers onto the butt feed device 84. Thebelt then travels down at the rear of the mechanism and beneath the lower driving roll I0. The latter roll is preferably driven by a separate motor I8 and is controlled to cause the elevator to be actuated only when the collector is in a receiving position and it is desired to raise pins from the pit to charge the collector there- The butt feed device The butt feed device 0| serves to invert the pins where necessary to cause all of the pins to be delivered to the right as seen in Fi 4 so that they pass to the collector I0 butt end foremost. The butt feed device illustrated embodies screws so that the pins are inverted readily in every case.

The chute BLdown which the pins pass to the.

collector-I8 is formed with rollers 90 so that the pins will not sticky or jam in thechute. The

lower discharge end 82 of the chute is turned downward to direct the pins into the caps 04 of the collector l8.

The collector The collector I8 is provided-with a table 06 mounted for rotation about a central bearing 98 and having castors I 00 movable on a platform I02 beneath the table. Ten cups 94 are carried by the table and as shown in Figs. 5 and '6 are numbered to correspond to the conventional numbers given to the pins they are to receive. When in their loading position of Fig. 5 the cups are arranged circularly but four of the cups are movable from the circular position to the position of Fig. 6 to bring the "cups and'pins to their two shafts or butt feed screws 80 and 82 formed with oppositely directed helical projections 84. The shafts are spaced apart a distance less than the greatest diameter of thepins whereby the pins are supported'by the shafts but they are inverted and advanced by the convolutions of the helical projections 84 as the shafts are rotated. The shafts are provided at their ends with gears 80 driven to rotate the shafts at the same speed triangular playing arrangement. For this purpose the cups which receive pins numbered I, I,

and I0 are moved outward from their circular loading positions to their triangular playing position whereas the cup which received the pin numbered 5 is movable inward to a central position as seen in Fig. 6.

When in the circular loadlng position and when ready for pins to be deposited in the cups,

while the helical projections are arranged on the shafts so that the projections are adjacent each other as shown in Fig. 4. 0n rotation of the 4 shafts the convolutions therefore appear to travel side by side lengthwise of the shafts.

The portion of each pin which engages the shafts 80 and 02 is adjacent to the portion of the pin of greatest diameter whereas the center of gravity of the pin is above the portion of greatest diameter. For this reason when the pins fall on the shafts 80 and 82 with the heads thereof' extending toward the right as seen in Fig. 4 the convolutions 84 on the shafts engage the pins near the butt end thereofand raise the butt ends.

' This action is aided by the fact that the center of gravity of the pins is on the opposite side of the point of support for the pins whereby the pins are caused to turn over or be inverted. The center of gravity is then on that side of the point or support of the pins against which the convolutions 84 act and since these convolutions are not effective to raise the center of gravity of the pin appreciably the pins are simply pushed along the shafts with the butt end foremostandare delivered tothe chute 80 in the proper position to be received by the shafts of the butt feed device with the butt ends thereof already extending toward the right the collector. Pins falling on as seen in Fig. 4 are engaged by the convolutions on the shafts in the same manner as the inverted pins and are carried forward by the helical projections so that they also are discharged into chute 80 butt end foremost.

the cup which receives number 8 pin is located beneath the discharge end 82 of the chute 88. Each cup is provided with a contact member I 04 positioned so that a pin deposited in the cup will complete an electrical circuit to cause table 96 to be rotated clockwise as seen in Fig. 5, to bring another cup beneath the discharge end 02 of the chute 88. In this way all of the cups are filled and thereafter the cups are moved from their circular loadin position to their triangular playing arrangement by any suitable means.

A preferred construction for moving the cups from the loading to the playing arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 wherein the six cups which receive pins numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 8 are mounted on a cover member I08 movable with the table 90. Beneath this cover are bell cranks I08 pivotally mounted on the table for V actuating the cups that receive pins numbered I and I0. One arm of each of these bell cranks is. slotted at IIO to receive a pin "2 attached to one of the slides II by which the cups for pins I and I0 are carried. The opposite ends of the bell cranks I08 are connectedby links IIO to-a stud II8 on slide I20 by which the cup for pin number I is moved into and out of its circular and triangular positions. In this way movement of the cup for pin 1 actuates the bell cranks I08 to cause pins I, I and I0 to move in Y and out together.

The cup for pin number 5 iscarried by a slide 1 I22 having a stud I24 connected by the link I20 to a lever I28 pivotally mounted on the table at I30. The slide I22 for pin number 5 is connected are moved is in the J serve. to stop operation of rnoves from the end of by link I82 to the slide I28 for-pin number I. which in turn actuates the bell cranks I88 and the slides II4 for pins I and I8. Thus the lever 128 when actuated serves to actuate all of the cups. However, since the distance which the cup for pin] must be moved is greater than the distance which the cups moved in shifting from the circular to the triangular positionsthe, links III are slotted at I84 to permit limited movement of cup 8 and link I82 in either direction before actuating the other slides and cups. The desired lost motion is thus provided to enable the cup for pin 5 to be moved prior to movement of the remaining cups on the table but when slide I22 has'moved far enough to bring the end of slot I84 into engagement with stud II8 on slide I28 are'moved to their limiting positions.

The actuating'means for the lever I28 by which slide I22 and the remaining slides and the cups form of an actuating arm I88 connected to lever Q28 by a link I48 and constructed so that the end thereof extends beyond the table 88.

The table 88 and cups 84 are rotated step by step to bring each cup into position beneath the discharge end 82 of chute 88 by means of a motor I42 mounted on a carriage I84 table. The motor is provided with a crank I88 connected by link I48 to a reciprocating member I88 slidable on guide-bars I82. The reciprocating member has a spring actuated plate I84 positioned to engage pins I88 projectingdownward irom table 88 so that as the member 8 moves forward the actuating plate 688 is deflected to pass the pins but on rearward movement the deflector plate engages a pin to rotate the table one step to bring another cup into position to receive a pin. As hereinafter described the electrical circuits controlling the operation of motor I88 serve to cause the reciprocating member I58 to advance the tabletwo steps to bring the cups for pin 2 into its receiving positions and the motor when all of the cups-have been filled. I

In order to prevent movement of the table and cups more than one step on each. operation of the reciprocating member I88 a lock isprovided as shown in Fig. 7. The loci: shown is in the form of a pivoted arm 588 having a locking lug 088 positioned when raised to engage one of the pins 588 on the opposite side of the'tabie from the reciprocating member are. A locking bar I582 pivotally mounted beneath the platform M2 on which the table is mounted, is located with the end thereof in position to element I88 on the reciprocating member I88 which on its rearward movement to rotate the table depresses the locking bar W2. The opposite end of the locking bar 888 is thus raised to cause the locking lug I88 of pivoted arm its to intercept a pin and prevent continued rotation oi the table as the reciprocating member I88 reached the end of itsoperating stroke. When the reciprocating member Hi8 moves forward durits idle return stroke the cam element I88 the locking bar I82v and locking lug 688 is retracted by spring I88 whereby the table is released for rotation on the next operation of the reciprocating member.

Back-lash of the table on engaging the locking lug I88 is prevented by aspring pressed arm I88 positionedto engage another pin I88 on movement of the table to its new position.

The table 88 all of the cups and slidessupporting the be engaged by a cam aaaavoa for pins I, I and I8 are wheels I'I8 running on tracks I12 at receiving -and arranging the pins are preferably located at the rear of the alley and for movement of thepins and clear observation thereof. In order to move the pins from the 001 lector to the playing surface of the alley it is necessary to provide means for moving the pins forward and for depositing them upon the playing surface of the alley. In order that the spotting device which places the pins on the alley may be accurate and as simple as possible in its operation it is preferable that. it be restricted to vertical movements and that the movement of" the pins forward into a position over-the .end of the alley be effected by means of the collector rather than the spotting device.

-For this purpose the carriage I44 which supportst'able 88 of the collector is provided with the sides of the framework 82. The table and cups are thus movable from a rearward loading position beneath the chute 88 and to a forward spotting position in which the pins are located above the rear end of the alley and beneath the spotting and its related: mechanism for 15- device I14.

The actuating arm I88 which projects from the table 88 and is movable to cause the cups to be moved into and out of their triangular playing arrangement, is operated as an incident to movement of the carriage and table into and out of its forward position. For this'purpose the arm I38 is positioned to engage a yieldable stop I16 on the framework 82 as the carriage I44 moves forward. In this way the 'arm I88 is moved from the full line position of Fig. 5 to the full line position of Fig.8 and the pins carried by the cups on the table 88 are moved from their circular arrangement of Fig. 5 to the triangular arrangement of Fig. 6. After the arm I38 reaches the full line position of Fig. 8 it passes over the end of the yieldable stop I16 into a position in which it will again engage and be actuated'by the stop I18 to return the cups to their circular loading arrangement, upon rearward movement of the car riage and table to their loading position.

- Since the arm i88 projects some distance from the table 88 and rotates with the table it might interfere with the operation of the spotter or other elements of the construction. In order to eliminate this danger the end I18 of the arm I38 is hinged at 88 and provided with a follower I82 which engages a cam H86 on the platform I82 oi the carriage.- The cam I84 is so formed that the end of the arm may project horizontally outward to engage the yieldable stop H8 when on the left handside of the table 86 as seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 but is elevated and held nearly vertical when the table rotates and the arm IE8 is in an inactive position. I

The carriage by which table 88 is carried is moved forward and rearward by a reversible The spotting device The spotting device I18 is vertically movable on the guide rods I88 of the framework 82 and is provided with a frame I98 having ten pairs of gripping members thereon. The gripping mem bers shown are in the form or levers I92 and I94 pivotally connected at I88 on the frame I88. The lower ends I88 of'the levers are formed with extended sides 288 adapted to engage the necks of the pins below the enlarged heads thereof even when the pins are displaced some distance from the spot on which they were originally placed.

over the pit so that they-leave ample room above the, alley In this way a pin which has walked from its original position a distance of several inches may be gathered in and reset in its original position. The inner faces of the sides 1200. are preferably provided with rubber liners to prevent the pins from slipping and to avoid injury thereto.

The spotter frame is arranged to be lowered so that the gripping members may be actuated to grasp the pins-,after which the frame and griptherewith to lift the pins from the cups 04 and permit the carriage and cup carrying table 06 to be moved rearwardly out of the'way of the spotter and into position to receive additional assavoa -plng members maybe raised carrying the pins 10 pins from the elevator and butt feed device.

Thereafterthe spotter frame with its gripping members holding the pins may be lowered to place the pins on the playing surface of the alley.

The upper ends of the levers I02 are connected to lower bars 202 of the actuating means for the grippingmembers whereas the upper ends of the levers I94 are connected to upper bars' 204 of the actuating means. These bars are moved horizontallyand in opposite directions to open and close versible motor 202 under control of areversible I spotting switch 204. x

The sweep v The sweep device illustrated in Fig; l is typical of various devices that may-be employed for removing the pins from the alley preparatory to operation of the spotting device. In the'construction shown arms 258 are pivotally mounted on the framework 62 near the upper portion thereof and on opposite sides of the alley and are connected at their free ends by across bar 260. The

sweep is actuated by the continuously operating pit conveyor motor through the action of a solenoid operated clutch 262 which when engaged drives a shaft 254 having cranks 266'on opposite ends thereof. Links 268 are connected to the arms 200 to lower the arms and causepins to be swept from the alley into the pit during the first half rotation of the cranks 200 and to raise the sweep and restore it to its normal inactive position during the second half rotation of the cranks. The operation of the sweep is made more the gripping members by means of toggle links 200 connected to a vertically movable operating rod 208. The point M0 on the rod 208 to which links- 206 are connected is below the upper and lower bars 202 and 204 so that when the rod is raised the links spread apart and force the rods 202 and 204 in opposite directions to close the gripping members. When the rod moves downward the links 206 draw together moving the bars 202 and 204 to open the gripping members.

smooth by the action of a counter weight 210 connected to the cross arms 260 by a cable 212.

In order that the pins may be cleared from the alley effectively a sweep board 211i is suspended by pivoted rods 216 from-the cross bar .200. and provided with wheels which run in the The operating rod 208 is moved up and down by 00 a grip motor 2l2 having a reducing gear with a crank 2 to which the operating rod is connected by a link 2I0. The motor2l2 is operated to cause the crank 2| 4 to move through an arc of 180' on each operation thereof andis actuated,

under the control of electrical circuits, whereby the operation and timing of themovements of the gripping members may be readily and accu-' "ratelycoordinatedwith the operation of other elements of. the combination. a

The operating rod 208 also serves to actuate a oscillating switch 2" controlling certain of the electrical circuits in the system. On' upward movement of the operating rod contact arm 220 of the oscillating'switch is moved over contacts 222, 224 and 226 and is then tripped to return to an inactive position under the action of a spring 228. Thereafter when the operating rod moves downward the switch is oscillated in the opposite direction moving contact arm 200 over contacts 55 232, 234 and!" whereupon it is tripped-so that theswitch returns to its normal open position.

Each of the gripping members is also provided with a feeler-in the form of a downwardly facing cup 230 movably located between the gripping members in position to engage the head of a pin when the spotter is lowered to lift the pins from the alley or to remove them from the collector cups. A contact carrying rod 240 is secured i0 each feeler cup and provided with-a conductng head 242 which engages the normally closed series connected contacts 244 of a "strike circult" 246 to open these-whenever the rod 240 is in its raised position. The conducting head 242 7 engages parallel connected contacts 240 to allow current to flow througha feeler circuit 200 when raised by engagement of the cup 234 with the'head of a pin. I

The spotter is'raised and lowered by a reward whereby the followers 280 on the projecting ends of pivoted rods 218 move. over the cam element allowing the sweep board 214 to descend onto the alley well in. advance of the spot for 45 number 1 pin. As the sweep arms continue to move downward over the alley to push the pins into the pit after which the sweep arms are raised moving the sweep board forward over the alley until the followers on the pivoted rods 216 are brought into engagement with the cam elements 218.- Further upward movement of the sweep arms 250 then causes the sweep board to move upward away from the. playing surface of the alley until it reaches its raised or inactive position as shown in Fig. 1.

l The electrical circuit;

The mechanism described above and the various devices embodied therein-may be controlled and actuated by any suitable means but as herein described they are preferably controlled and actuated by electrical means coordinated to effect automatic operation of'each of the devices in predetermined sequences depending upon the conditions of play. v

The wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 11 shows a typical and preferred combination of electrics? devices and connections for controlling and actuating the mechanism. In this system current. is

0 supplied from a conventional volt power line through master switch 202; which may be locatedin the manager's ofllce or at the end oi the alley and it may be operated manually, by coin'controlled means or otherwise as desired. The 110 76 volt current passes through lines 204 to the varions motors for driving the devices whereas low voltage current for actuating relays and solenoids is supplied from the power line through a transformer 286 to conductors 288.

The power for actuating the various devices is preferably supplied by six separate motors referred to above. The pit conveyor motor 24 is connected directly to the power line 284 and operates the conveyor belt 18, the ball return device and the sweep. .The elevator motor I8 drives the elevator belt 6t and butt-feed screw 80 and 82 and is controlled by a circuit including elevator switch .298 actuated by, the carriage I46 by which the collector is moved to its loading position beneath discharge end 92 of, chute 88. The circuit is broken by means of a spring contact 282 movable to open position by the cam 296 on the collector table 96 to stop operation of the elevator when the cups on the collector are filled,

- Rotation of the collector table 96 with its cups 96 is eflectedby means of the collector motor M2 under the control of a circuit including the carriage operated collector switchnt. This motor is operated periodically to rotate the table step by step from one position to another on closing of the pin actuated contacts M4 in the pin receiving cups 9 3.

The carriage motor I86 employed for moving the carriage back and forth between its loading position over the pit and its forward position over the alley is connected through a carriage operated rev'ersing switch 298 to a drum type control switch 300 having contact arms 302 and we. The

drum switch is rotated by mechanical means (not shown) through an arc of 60 on each movement.

of the spotting device to its uppermost position.

The reversible spotter motor 282 which raises and lowers the spotter is controlled by a circuit including the spotter switch 2 which has a "down contact" 306 an intermediate fstop" po- 7 sition and an up contact" 3%. Movement of the contact arm 3H! of the spotter switch is efarmature 848 of a bail contact relay Ill. The armature has previously been moved into engagement with a "first ball contact ill but is movable in the opposite direction to engage a "second ball contact 280 by means of a magnet "2 upon closure of one of the contacts I and it on each 90 degree rotation of the other ball actuated switch 40 of the ball return device.

The clutch 282 by which the sweep is driven from the motor 24 is actuated by a solenoid 145 ,under control of the switch 286. This switch in turn is actuated by the solenoid "I after the first ball ha been rolled or in the event of a switch 290 is closed by the carriage m but the Y fected by. means of a "down solenoid" M2, a stop solenoid" SH and an "up solenoid Mt.

The grip motor H2 is controlled by a switch 3 l8 actuated by a starting solenoid 320 connected through the parallel contacts 248 of the ieeler circuit 250 to a spring contact 322 carried by the spotterframe and by the stopping solenoid 224 connected to the uppermost contacts 226 and238 of the oscillating switch 2E8 to stopoperation of the grip motor when the gripping members reach their fully opened or fullyclosed positions. The

- lower contacts 222 and'222 of the oscillating switch serve .to complete circuits for energizing the solenoids 326 and 328.-respectively of the jack" switch 330 while the central contacts 224 and 234 of the oscillating switch serve-to complete alternative circuits for energizing th "up sole- I 11016." 3 l B of the spotter switch 2".

The spotter frame by which spring contact 322 is carried also carries spring contacts 232, 224,

- I" and 338 whereby these contacts are moved into and out of e gagement with actuating pins on a side panel 2 0 at predetermined times during the operation of the spotter. The spotter on moving downward to its lowermost position en-.

gages a "strike switch 342 connected to the series contacts 244 of the strikecircuiv 248 and on moving upward beyond its normal upper limit actuate's -i safty' switch sup 'to break the catter motor circuitt]:

' The operationof the'mechanism is initiated by means of the ball actuated starting switch I! of the ball return device, which is connected to the The operation of the mechanism and electrical circuits will be described by reference to the diagrammatic illustrations of Figs. 12/ to 18 together with the wiring diagram oflFig. 11.

When in the starting position ready for oper- 'ation the elements of the mechanism are in the locations indicated'in Fig. 12 and this contacts and circuits are in the positions indicated in Fig.

11. The pins are on the playing surface of the alley, the pit conveyor is operating, the elevator and butt feed device are stationary and the carriage I44 and collector are in their rear position over the pit. The spotter and sweep are of course elevated to leave the alley clear for. pl y.

In the wiring diagram the armature 348 of ball contact relay 348 is in engagement with first ball contact" 350, the elevator starting means (not shown) actuated by the carriage, but

on starting operations they are retracted. 1 The series strike circui 24. is closed and the "feeler circuit 25! broken at all points since there are no pins in the gripping members.

when the first ball is rolled it passes into the vpit and in falling on the belt .II is engaged by the diagonal ribs 24 thereof and rolled to the left as seen in Fig. 2 so that it will enter the open side of the hood I. and come to rest on the lifting -forks 3'. The ball also engages the ball contact lever 54 to move hook 48 into engagement with the links of the chain ll so that the ball s raised to be discharged'onto the ball track and returned a to the player... I

The movement of ball contact lever I4 serves .to close the starting switch ll momentarily whereupon current news from lowvoltage conductors 2" through switch ll and armature 844 of the ball contact relay 842 to the firstball contact" ill and thence through conductor 214 to "down solenoid", 812 of the spotter switch and back to the opposite side of the low voltage line. The down solenoid" when operated moves the contact arm ill of the spotter switch into engagement with down contact ll! closing a cirenergize the down solenoid 3l2.

switch is thus operated to causethe spotter motor cuit through the spotter motor 232. The spotter thereupon moves downward past retracted actuating pins 3333 and 322 In passing actuating pins 332 and 334 the spring contacts pass over the actuating'pins without closing a circuit so 3 that the spotter continues'to descend until pin 322 closes spring contact 322 connected to the parallel contacts of "feeler circuit 233.

' Ifthe first ball rolled-was not a strike some of the pins will remain standing on the alley as 10 shown in Fig. 13. The standing pins will engage the cup shaped feeler 233 between the gripping members as the spotter descends to the position shown in Fig. 14 and the gripping members pass down about the necks of the standing pins. The

feeler contact carrying rod 243 of one or more gripping members will thus be raised as the spotter descends completing a circuit through the parallel contacts of the "feeler circuit" 233 so that current will pass through conductor 213 to solenoidv 323 for closing the grip motor switch 3". At the same time the seriesconnected strike circuits is broken. The grip motor 2l2 is thus actuated to move the operating rod 233 of the gripping device upward to close the gripping members about the necks of th standing pins.

As the spotter continues to'move downward and shortly after spring contact 322 is c10sed,'the spring contact 333 is actuated to close a circuit through the "stop solenoid 3 of the spotter "switch whereby further descent of the spotter is'checked. As the spotter comes to rest at its lowermost position it closes the spotter raising switch 3 connected to the series contacts 244 of the "strike circuit" 243 butsince this circuit is broken by thestanding pins engaging the feel ers 233 the spotter remains in itslowered position while thegripping members move to engage the standing pins. a s

i ,As the gripping members close about the necks of the pins the-oscillating switch 2l3 is actuated to 'move contact arm 223 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 11 whereby contact .222 :is engaged to actuate solenoid 323 andthrow in the Jack switch 333. On further movement of the contact arm 223 contact 224 is engaged to energize the up solenoid 3l3 of the spotter switch to cause the spotter to rise and raise the standing pins from the playing surface of the alley and contact 223 isengaged to energize solenoid 324 of the grip motor switch tobreak the grip motor circuit.

As the spotter continues to rise spring contact 334'is moved into engagement with its actuating pin 334' and a circuit is closed through the contact "31.3 of the. jack switch 333 to energize stop solenoid 3 of the spotter switch without waiting for the spotter to travel to its uppermost position. At the same time spring contact 332 is actuated to close a circuit through contact 333 of the jack switch to energize solenoid 363. of the sweep'switch 333. The solenoid operated clutch 232 is thus actuated to cause the sweep to descend and remove the dead wood from the alley as shown in Fig. 14 after which the sweep returns to its raised position. Upon return movement of the sweep, the. sweep arm 253 closes switch 313 completing a circuit through conductor 314 to 232 to lower the pins held by the gripping members and replace them on the playing surface of.

the alley in their original-positions as shown in Fig. 15

As the pins are' lowered onto the alley by the spotter spring contact 322 is actuated to cause The spotter the-grip motor 2l2to operate and open the gripping members while spring contact 333 is actuated to stop the spotter motor. The operation of the grip motor to release the pins moves contact arm 233 of the oscillating switch .over contacts 232, 234 and 233 whereby the Jack switch 333 is opened, current is passed through contact 234 and conductor 332 to the up solenoid 3 of the spotter switch and the grip motor switch 313 is opened to stopfurther movement of the gripping members.

The empty spotter then rises passing actuating pins 332 and 334 which simply actuate contacts in circuits opened at the jack switch and finally reaches its fully raised position operating spring contact 333 to stop operation of the spotter motor.

While those operations initiated by the first ball and described above are taking place the other switch 33 of the ball return device is actuated by the bearing block 44 as the ball is raised from the pit to be returned to the player. On actuation of switch 33 after the first ball current passes through oneof the contacts 3| or 33 from the low ment of the armature 343 to its second ball position and will insure movement of the armature to its first ball position at-the end of each two ball frame and after every strike.

As the spotter reaches its uppermost position after resetting the standing pins it rotates the drum switch 333 through an are 60 bringing switch am 332 into engagement with contacts 384 and 333 so that a circuit is completed through the drum switch and contact 333 of the carriage operated reversing switch 233 whereby the carriage-motor I33 is actuated to move the collector forward into position over the alley and beneath the spotter.

. On'reaching. its foremost positions as shown in I Fig. 16 the carriage closes switch 393 completing a circuit through down solenoid 3l2 to actuate the spotter switch and cause the spotter to descend.v At the same time the carriage throws the reversing switch .233. to engage contact 332 but since this circuit is open at contact)" of the drum switch the carriage remains in its forward position.

During forward movement of the carriage I44, the cups 34 on table 33 are moved from their circular loading arrangement to their triangular playing arrangement and are therefore held in position to be received by ,the triangularly arranged-gripping members on the spotter. At the same time the actuating pins 333 and 322 are projecting so that the spotter descends to bring l the gripping members into place about the necks of the pins 'on the, collector the spring contact 333 is actuated to. operate the stop solenoid of the spotter switch and bring the gripping members to rest with the heads of the pins bearing against the feelers 233 to close the "feeler circuit" 233. At substantially the same time thefcontact 322 is actuatedto energize solenoid 323 and close the grip motor switch M3 for actuating the grip motor 2". The oscillating switch 2l3 is then actuated as more to cause :the'iack switch to be thrown in, the spotter to rise and the grip motor to cease operation. As the spotter reaches its uppermost position and is stopped by operation of is again spring contact 888 the drum switch 888 rotated 68 to bring contact arm 888 into engagement with contacts 888 and 888 and a circuit is completed through the closed contact 882 of the reversing switch 288 to cause the carriage motor I88 to move the carriage back into position over the pit as shown in Fig. 1'7.

During return movement of the carriage the arm I88 oi the collector engages the yieldable stop I18 to move the cups 88 on table 88 from their triangular playing arrangement to their circular loading arrangement. Return movement of the carriage also serves momentarilyto close the starting switch 288, of the collector motor circuit, whereby the collectbr motor I82 is energized to rotate the table 88 and cups 88 one step to bring the cup for pin number 8 beneath the discharge end 82 or the chute 88. This movement of the table serves to remove cam 288 on the table from beneath the spring contact 282 so that as the carriage moves on to its rear position and closes the control switch 288 a circuit is completed through the elevator motor 18 asaavos' raised position and the collector cups have been refilled ready for a second operation. 8

When the second ball is rolled andreturned to theplayer the starting contact 88 is again actuated but since the armature 888 of the ball contact relay is in engagement with second ball con tact 8.82 current passes throughconductor 8I8 to the solenoid 888 of the sweep switch to actuate the same and cause clutch 282 to be engaged, I

so that all or the pinsremaining on the alley, whether standing or dead wood" are moved into the pit as shown in Fig. 17. Thereafter when the sweep returns to its raised position switch 818 is closed to cause the spotter to descend and place a new set of pins on the playing surface of the alley as shown in Fig. 18. As the spotter returns to its ifully raised position as shown in v Fig. 18 the drum switch'888 is rotated to its "of!" the armature 888 isreturned to engagement with a the first ball contact 888'to preparethe circuit or starting) position and the system is returned to its original condition ready for play. The second ball when returned also actuates the switch 88 to close that one 01 the contacts 8| and 88 which is then connected to the magnet 882 so that for the next frame of play.

and pins are raised i'rom the pit to the butt feed device 'and discharged butt end foremost down a pin into the cup beneath chute 88. when this Y circuit'is closed the motor I82 is-driven to bring the next cup into place to receive a pin iromthe chute. The circuit is then broken by movementof the, segment 882 connected to the closed cupcontact away irom the brush 888 so that the next cup remains in position beneath the disa strike" should be made and there are no pinscharge end 01 the chute 88 until a pin is deposited therein. By connecting the conta'ct'segments the cups for pins 8 and 2 by a connection 888 the collector=motoris driven ior a period long enough to pass over the space between these cups to bring cup 2 into place to receive a pin.

when the last cup receives a pin (pin '8) the collector motor rotates the table to bringbrush switch 882 energizes magnet 881 to close switch I 888 which is held -closed by a spring detent 88I. Switch 888 also serves to close a, circuit through.

888 into engagement with a blank space or disconnected segment 8 whereby the circuit is broken and "the collector table held in a neutral position with 4 the discharge end 82 of the chute 88 over the space between. the cups for Pi 8 and 8. At the same time the final movement of 2 2 table 88 brings cam288 into engagement with spring contact. 282 to break the elevator motor circuit so that no more pins are delivered to the collector. Any-pins already discharged to the chute 88 pass between the cups and engage deflector 2 on the table 82 so as to be returned .to the pit.

I The f egoing operations of the mechanism complete cycle wherein the pins left standing after the first ball is rolled are raised'ircm the playing surface, the fallen pins are removed from the alley, the standing pins are reset on the alley, a new set of pins is trans! rredirom the collector to the spotter'and the spotter hasreturned to its The operation of the mechanism is thus'made fullyautcmatic and each of the devices embodied therein is caused to be actuated inpredetermined sequence depending upon the-conditions or play.

The series oiopera'tions which have been described above are those which take place in the event no "strike is made on the first ball. If

left standing when the first ball passes into the pit the empty spotter will descend as before but the "i'eeler circuit will remain open at all points and the strike circuit will remain closed. Spring contact 822 will then perform no function when closed and descent of the spotterwill be checked by closureoi] spring contact 888. The

strike switch'882 will be closed as the spotter comes to rest in its lowered position andfisince the strike circuit 288 is now closed at all points current will fiow through conductor 882 to ener gizethe up solenoid 818 oithe spotter switch and cause-the spotter to rise. Completion oi this circuit also energizes magnet 888 to close switch 888 and complete a circuit through solenoid 882 of the ball contact relay 888 to return the armature 3 thereof, which was previously moved to second ball contact" 888,.back to the first ball contact" 888. Completion of g a circuit through strike solenoid 888 ,of the reversing switch 888 to cause the contacts 8| and 88 oi the ball actuated switch 88 to be connected with the magnets 882 and 882 in such a manner as to insure return oi the armsture 888 ct theball contact relay to engage first ball contact? 888 at the end of every frame whether a strike is rolled or not.

As the'spctter returns to its raised position the Jack switch is open so that contacts 882 and 888 are inactive and the spotter moves to its uppermost position whereby the drum switch is rotated 88 to actuate the carriage motor I88 ito moyethe collector out beneath the sp tter and the pre viously described operations take place to remove the pins from the collector. returns to its loading position and inso doing closes switch 888 to'eomplete a circuit'through closed switch 888 andconductor 888 to conductor 8 connected to solenoid 888 or the sweep switch The carriale I88 8 1. In combination w ll. An arm "I on the carriage I ll engagesthe spring detent I of switch 358 to. cause the switch to open shortly after closure of switch Ill.

Thus the sweep is actuated to clear pins from thealley for the next frame of play and the spotter .is caused to descend .to reset the pins on completion of the sweeping operation.

From the foregoing. description it will 'be apparent that the mechanism is fully automatic and while described for use when two balls are rolled b each player it may be modiiledfreadily for use when threeor more balls are rolled by each player or the game is otherwise modified. 7 It will also be noted that the mechanism is adapted to be applied to existing bowling alleys without change in the playing surface so that it is-not necessary to relay the alley and regulation wooden pins may be used thus avoiding change in existing equipment. Moreover, it is possible to eliminate the spotting plates which are often embeddedinthe alleys to receive spotting pins and so avoid the danger of misplay and inJury, to

the balls due to a raised or displaced plate.

' The construction and operation of the various devices embodied in the mechanism are also of such relative simplicity that they may be made easily and economically and applied to existing .alleys without great installing expense or rearrangement of alleys and without making structural changes in the building in which the alleys .are housed.

While a. preferred form and arrangement of the elements and devices have been illustrated and described above it will be evident that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the form, constructions and arrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should therefore be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein described and shown in the drawings are intended to beillustrative of; the invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

Iclaim:

passin the course of play, means for separating the balls from the pins comprising a belt, and means mounting said belt for longitudinal movement'within the limits of said pit, said belt being provided with spaced upwardly projecting ribs extending diagonally with respect to the direction of movement of the belt. r 1/ 2. In combination with a bowling alley havin a pit at theend thereof into which balls and pins 7 pass in the course of play, means for separating the balls from the pin comprising means forming an inclined floor for the pit, a'belt movable wholly "within said pit in a longitudinal direction relative to said alley upward over saidinclined floor 4 and spaced upwardly projecting ribs on said belt extending diagonally to {the direction of movement of said belt. '3. In combination with a bowling alley, p

setting mechanism comprising a rotatable device having circularly arranged elements for receiving and holding pins, means mounting said device for movement above said alley, means for moving said device into position over said alley and,

mechanisrnconnected to said elements and re- I sponsive to movement of said device'for moving said elements from said circular loading -arrange-. ment into .a triangular playing arr ngement.

itIn combination with a bowlingalley having a pit at the end thereof, pin setting mechanism comprising a traveling support mounted for 75 ith abowlinfg alley having" a pit at the end thereof into which balls and pins 45 movement abovesaidpitand alley, pin holding elements on said support for receiving and holding pins, mechanism connected to-said elements for moving said elements on said support selectively into and out of a circular loading arrange ment and a triangular playing arrangement and means tor moving said support and? pin loaded elements from a loading position over said pit to a playing position over said alley.

10 5. In combination with a bowling alley, pin. setting mechanismcomprising a collector havingpin receiving elements, means connected to said ,elements for ,moving the same into and out of a circular loading arrangement, and a triangul6 lar playing. arrangement,- a carriage supporting said collector.and movable into and out of a position above said alley and actuating means responsive to movement of said carriagefor moving said elements fromone arrangement thereof to another. I

6. In combination with a bowling alley, having.

a pit at the end thereof, pin setting mechanism comprising elements for .receiving and holding pins, mechanism connected tosaid elements for zs inoving said elements above said pit and alley in a substantially horizontal plane selectively into andout of a circularloadingarrangement and a triangular playing 'arrangement, means for moving said elements from a loading position 80 over said pit to a, playing position over said alley, and means for lowering said pins while in their triangular playing arrangement onto the playing surface of the alley. J Y

. 7. Apparatus adapted for use in combination 85 with a bowling alley comprising means located adjacent the pit at the end ofthealley for rais- 1 ing and positioning pins preparatory to resetsaid device to reset any standingpins o'r'deliver a new-setof pins to said alley. it In a pin setting machine for a bowlingv al- I ley or the like, means for raising pins from the pit at the end of the alley, means for delivering 1 said pins butt foremost to a predetermined point,

- means for receiving said pins movabl successively'past said point, mechanism for moving the pins so received away from said delivering means and positioning the same in substantially tri-, angular playing arrangement, a device located '00 above the playing surface-of the alley for lowering the pins so arranged onto the playing surface,

those occupied by the triangularly arranged-pins,

and a plurality of pin actuated controls associated with each of said units for selectively 0021- trolling the operationof said device to reset any standing pinor set a new frame of pins on said 'alley.

' mentsfor receiving and holding pins, means for moving said'elements and the-pins'carried thereby late a triangulgl playing arrangement, gripping means positioned to receive pins from said elements after arrangement thereof andmeeh a plurality of pinv gripping units mounted on said k -device in positions insubstantial alignment with I 9. m 'combinationcwith a bowling alley ele- I surface of the alley in their triangular playing arrangement, a plurality of sets of electric contacts carried by s'aidfgripping means, a parallel circuit, and a series circuit connecting each of said sets of contacts and pin engageable detectors associated with said gripping means for selectively engaging said contacts to make or break sa'id series and parallel circuit to control the operation of said gripping means.

10. In pin setting mechanism for bowling alleys and the like, a pin setter movable towards and away from the alley, an electrical control system including two alternative circuits for controlling operation of the setter, one of said circuits having ten contacts connected in series and the other circuit having ten contacts connected in parallel and means carried by the setter and positioned to be actuated by a bowling pin standing on the alley for opening a contact in one of said circuits and closing a contact in the other of said circuits to control the operation of said setter.

11. In pin setting mechanism for bowling alleys and thelike gripping units, a collector for receiving and holding pins to be engaged by'said gripping units, means for moving said collector in a substantially horizontal plane above said alley .and positioning pins held therein in substantially triangular arrangement beneath said gripping units, and means for effecting relative movement between said triangularly arranged pins in said collector and gripping units, and means for actuating said gripping units to grip said pins for removal from said collector.

12. In pin setting mechanism for bowling alleys and the like a spotter having a plurality ofsetter-resetter units each adapted to both set pins on and remove pins from. the playing surasssgzo's 1 ment from a pin receiving position above said pit to a pin delivering position above said alley, a rotatable device mounted on said support, a plurality of circularly arranged pin holding elements carriedby said device, means for delivering pins to each of said pin holding elements, means for moving said support from said pin receiving position tosaid pin delivering position over said alley, andmeans for moving said elements from said circular arrangement into triangular arrangement for delivery of pins carried ed above said bed, and means by said elements in proper playing arrangement to said alley.

vl6. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pin supporting bed, Din setting mechanism comprising a travelin support, a plurality of pin receiving and holding elements mounted on said support for travel therewith, means for delivering pins to each of said elements, means for movingsaid support from pin receiving position to a pin delivering position over said bed, mechanism connected to said elements and, responsive to the travel of said support for positioning said elements in triangular playing arrangement, a pin setter mountfor effecting relative movement between said support and setter to deliver said triangularly positioned pins in said elements to said setter.

17. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling. alley having a pit at one end thereof and 'a pin supporting bed, atraveling support, means for moving said support between a pin receiving and a pin delivery position, a rotatable table mounted on said support, a plurality o! circularly arranged pin receiving and holding face of the alley and means carried by the spotter ,and actuated by engagement with a bowling pin standing on the playing surface controlling operation of said spotter.

13. In a bowling with a bowling alley, pin setting mechanism comprising a rotatable device, circularly arranged pin receiving and holding elements supported by said pin setting machine for use device, means mounting said device for movement above said. alley, means for moving said device and loaded elements into a predetermined position over said alley, mechanism connected to said elements for moving said elements from circular into a triangular playing arrangement, and means associated with each'of said elements for controlling the rotation of said device.

14. In a bowling pin setting machine for use a rotatable device havingwlth a bowling alley, a plurality of circularly arranged elements for receiving and holding bowling pins, pin feeding mechanism, means for rotating said device to move each element carried thereby into the range of operation of said mechanism to-eif ect .the delivery of a pin to each of said elements, means for moving said pin loaded device out of the range of said mechanism and into a predetermined position over said alley, and mechanism connected to said elements and responsive to movement of said device for moving said elements from said circular loading arrangement into a triangular playing arrangement.

. 15. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, pin setting mechanismcomprising a traveling support, means mounting said support for movecups carried by said table, means for delivering pins in succession to said cups, and means for imparting step by step rotation to said table to move empty cups into, the range of operation of said pin delivering means for delivery'of pins to said cups.

18. In a bowling pin setting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at .one end thereof and a pin supporting bed, a traveling support, means for moving said.support between a pin receiving and a pin delivery position, a rotatable table mounted on said support, a plurality of circularly arranged pin receiving and holding cups carried by said table, means for delivering pins in succession to said cups, means for imparting step by step rotation to said table to move empty cups into the range of operation of said pin delivering means for delivery of pins to said cups carried by said table, means for delivering pins in succession to said cups, means for imparting step by step rotation to said table" to move empty cups into the range of operation of said pin deliveringmeans. for delivery of pins to said cups, means associated with each of said cups for controllingv the stepwise movement of said table, and mechanism connected to said elements and responsive to the movement of said support to said pin delivery position for moving said cups 

